Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that the new agreement between Italy and Germany to strengthen defence and security cooperation is not a response to the increasingly assertive stance of US President Donald Trump towards Europe.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after an intergovernmental summit in Rome, Meloni rejected suggestions that the deal had a defensive function linked to relations with Washington.
“I wouldn’t say so,” she said. “Our willingness to cooperate with the United States remains firm.”
Strong Transatlantic Ties
Meloni said Italy and Germany enjoy privileged relations with the US, partly due to the presence of American military bases in both countries. She added that Rome and Berlin could help reinforce transatlantic relations by working together and adopting a “pragmatic, not instinctive” approach to dealings with Washington.
Meloni maintains close personal relations with Trump and was the only European leader invited to his inauguration last year.
She has also urged the EU to avoid escalation in response to Trump’s proposed tariffs on European goods and his stated intention to take control of Greenland from Denmark.
Growing Security Concerns
The defence and security agreement was signed during the Italy-Germany summit in Rome and focuses on responding to what both governments described as “growing global challenges and threats”.
The document states that Italy and Germany recognise the need for stronger cooperation in security, defence and resilience, in order to safeguard peace and stability in Europe. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to existing international structures, including NATO, the European Union, the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The agreement says reinforced cooperation will enhance Europe’s ability to protect freedom, peace and security, based on democratic principles, individual liberty and the rule of law.
Although the agreement is not legally binding and does not constitute an international treaty, Rome and Berlin committed to strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence capabilities.
They also pledged to advance the European Union’s defence readiness, with coordinated efforts aimed in particular at restoring peace and security on the European continent.
Wider Strategic Cooperation
Alongside the defence pact, Meloni and Merz signed a protocol launching an Italian-German Plan of Action for strategic bilateral and EU cooperation.
The plan stresses the importance of a strong transatlantic bond between Europe and the United States, grounded in shared values and interests.
It also commits both governments to upholding international law, including respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
